Garbage bin and lid for container

ABSTRACT

A garbage bin in which, when the opening of a container in which garbage is placed is closed by a lid, odor emanating from the garbage does not leak to the outside from a gap between the container and the lid. The garbage bin includes an outer container, an inner container placed inside the outer container and in which garbage is placed, an openable/closable outer lid pivotally attached to the outer container and closing the opening of the outer container, and an inner lid attached to the lower surface of the outer lid and moving together with the outer lid. The lower surface of the inner lid is in intimate contact with the upper end of the inner container when the opening of the outer container is closed by the outer lid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a garbage bin which has a container forplacing garbage and a lid which closes the opening of said container.The present invention also relates to a lid which closes the opening ofsaid container.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a garbage bin having a container for placing garbage anda lid for closing the opening of said container is known (for example,Patent Reference 1).

Patent Reference 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent 1995-41105 Gazette

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the conventional garbage bin having the conventional containerand lid had the drawback wherein odor from the garbage would emanatefrom a gap between the container and lid formed when the opening of thecontainer was closed with the lid.

The present invention was made in light of said situation and has theobjective of providing a garbage bin which can prevent odor fromemanating from a gap between the container and lid formed when theopening of the container was closed with the lid. The present inventionalso has the objective of providing a container lid which can preventodor from emanating outside the container of the garbage bin or similar.

Means for Solving the Problems

To achieve the objectives described above, the present inventionprovides the garbage bin indicated in (1) to (8) below and the containerlid indicated in (9) to (13) below.

(1) A garbage bin which is equipped with an outer container, an innercontainer placed inside said outer container and in which garbage isplaced, an openable/closable outer lid pivotally attached to said outercontainer and closing the opening of said outer container, and an innerlid attached to the lower surface of said outer lid and moving togetherwith said outer lid and which is characterized by the lower surface ofsaid inner lid that comes into intimate contact with the upper end ofsaid inner container when the opening of said outer container is closedwith said outer lid.(2) The garbage bin of (1) which is characterized by the inner lidhaving flexibility being made of silicone rubber.(3) The garbage bin of (1) or (2) where the lower surface of the outerlid has a hook section in the central section, a hinge mounting sectionin the base section, and an inner lid mounting section in the extremitysection, the upper surface of the inner lid has in its center aprojecting piece with a hole formed in it, the extremity section of theinner lid has a hole formed in it, said hook section of said outer lidis inserted in said hole in the upper central section of said inner lid,and the inner lid mounting section of said outer lid is inserted in thehole in the extremity section of said inner lid, and which ischaracterized by the inside of the inner container being placed undernegative pressure due to said hook section pressing the inner liddownward when the lower surface of the inner lid is in intimate contactwith the upper end of the inner container, and by the inside of theinner container being opened to the air by said inner lid mountingsection lifting up the extremity section of the inner lid when the outerlid and inner lid are opened.(4) The garbage bin of (3) which is characterized by the inner lidmounting section of said outer lid consisting of a wide sectionconnected to the lower end of the flat section, with the width of saidflat section being shorter than the diameter of the hole at theextremity section of said inner lid, and the width of said wide sectionbeing longer than the diameter of the hole at the extremity section ofsaid inner lid.(5) The garbage bin of (1) to (4) which is characterized by an inner lidholding section having an L-shaped cross section located near the basesection on the lower surface of said outer lid, and by the horizontalsection of said inner lid holding section being located downward of saidinner lid.(6) The garbage bin of (1) to (5) which is characterized by afolded-back section folded back to the outside installed at the upperend of the inner container, and by a hole being formed at saidfolded-back section and both ends of a handle being inserted into saidhole.(7) The garbage bin of (1) to (6) which is characterized by a steppedsection molded to bulge inward slightly downward of the upper end of theinner container and by the attachment to the inner container of a ringfor fastening a garbage bag, which is to be positioned on said steppedsection.(8) The garbage bin of (1) to (7) which is characterized by having apedal installed at the lower section of the outer container, and byhaving the outer lid and inner lid open together by stepping on saidpedal with a foot.(9) A container lid where it is a lid of a container comprised of anouter container and an inner container positioned inside said outercontainer, and is equipped with an openable/closable outer lid pivotallyattached to said outer container and closing the opening of said outercontainer, and an inner lid attached to the lower surface of said outerlid and moving together with said outer lid, and which is characterizedby the lower surface of the inner lid being in intimate contact with theupper end of said inner container when the opening of said outercontainer is closed by said outer lid.(10) The container lid of (9) which is characterized by its inner lidhaving flexibility being made of silicone rubber.(11) The container lid of (9) or (10) wherein the lower surface of theouter lid has a hook section in the central section, a hinge mountingsection in the base section, and an inner lid mounting section in theextremity section, the upper surface of the inner lid has in its centera projecting piece with a hole formed in it, the extremity section ofthe inner lid has a hole formed in it, said hook section of said outerlid is inserted in said hole in the upper central section of said innerlid, and the inner lid mounting section of said outer lid is inserted inthe hole in the extremity section of said inner lid, and which ischaracterized by the inside of the inner container being placed undernegative pressure due to said hook section pressing the inner liddownward when the lower surface of the inner lid is in intimate contactwith the upper end of the inner container, and by the inside of theinner container being opened to the air by said inner lid mountingsection lifting up the extremity section of the inner lid when the outerlid and inner lid are opened.(12) The container lid of (11) which is characterized by the inner lidmounting section of said outer lid consisting of a wide sectionconnected to the lower end of the flat section, with the width of saidflat section being shorter than the diameter of the hole at theextremity section of said inner lid, and the width of said wide sectionbeing longer than the diameter of the hole at the extremity section ofsaid inner lid.(13) The container lid of (9) to (12) which is characterized by an innerlid holding section having an L-shaped cross section located near thebase section on the lower surface of the outer lid, and by thehorizontal section of said inner lid holding section being locateddownward of said inner lid.

With the garbage bin of the present invention, the lower surface of theinner lid is in intimate contact with the upper end of the innercontainer when the opening of the outer container is closed with theouter lid, wherefore no gap is formed between the inner container andthe inner lid, wherefore the odor emanating from the garbage placed inthe inner container does not leak to the outside. The container lid ofthe present invention, owing to no gap being formed between the innercontainer and the inner lid owing to the lower surface of the inner lidbeing in intimate contact with the upper end of the inner container whenthe opening of the outer container is closed with the outer lid, canprevent the odor emanating from the garbage placed in the innercontainer from leaking to the outside.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

With the garbage bin of the present invention, odor emanating fromgarbage does not leak outside from a gap between the container and thelid when the opening of the container in which garbage is placed isclosed with the lid. The container lid of the present invention canprevent odor emanating from objects placed in the container from leakingto the outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, with (a) being aperspective view illustrating the lid in an open state, and (b) being aperspective view illustrating the lid in a closed state.

FIG. 2( a) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the garbage bin inFIG. 1 with the lid in an open state, and (b) is a cross-sectional viewillustrating the garbage bin in FIG. 1 with the lid in a closed state.

FIG. 3( a) is a perspective view illustrating the upper section of theinner container of the garbage bin in FIG. 1, and (b) is an enlargedcross-sectional view illustrating the upper section of said innercontainer.

FIG. 4 is a front view which gives a schematic illustration of the innercontainer of the garbage bin in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5( a) to (c) are explanatory drawings illustrating how a garbagebag is attached to the garbage bag holding ring and placed within theinner container.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the lower surface of the outerlid.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the lower surface of the innerlid.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the inner lid mounted onto thelower surface of the outer lid.

FIG. 9( a) is an explanatory drawing illustrating the garbage bin inFIG. 1 with the lid in a closed state, and (b) is an explanatory drawingillustrating the garbage bin in FIG. 1 with the lid in an open state.

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The modes for carrying out the invention will be explained in referenceto the drawings; however, the invention is not limited to the examplesgiven below. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate modes for carrying out thegarbage bin relating to the invention, with FIG. 1 (a) being aperspective view showing the lid in an open state, FIG. 1 (b) being aperspective view showing the lid in a closed state, FIG. 2 (a) being across-sectional view showing the lid in an open state, and FIG. 2 (b)being a cross-sectional view showing the lid in a closed state. Thegarbage bin in this example is equipped with an outer container (10), aninner container (12) which is placed inside outer container (10) andwithin which garbage is placed, an openable/closable outer lid (14)which is pivotally attached to the outer container (10) and which closesthe opening of the outer container (10), and an inner lid (16) which isattached to the lower surface of outer lid (14) and which moves togetherwith outer lid (14).

The outer container (10) is of an approximately cylindrical bottomedconfiguration wherein plastic platform (20) is fixed at the lower end ofstainless steel cylinder (18), and plastic ring-shaped flange (22) isfixed at the upper end of cylinder (18). The inner diameter of thering-shaped flange (22) is made so that it is larger than the innerdiameter of cylinder (18) and the diameter of inner lid (16), and innerlid (16) is capable of being placed within the ring-shaped flange (22).

The inner container (12) is of an approximately cylindrical bottomedconfiguration molded in one piece with plastic. The outer diameter ofthe inner container (12) except for the folded-back section (24) whichwill be described later, is smaller than the inner diameter of cylinder(18) of the outer container (10). Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, theinner container (12) has a folded-back section (24), folded back to theoutside, installed at the upper end, and a circular hole (26) is formedat the folded-back section (24), and both ends of an approximatelysemicircular metal handle (28) are inserted into the circular hole (26).Furthermore, the outer rim (30) of the folded-back section (24) of theinner container (12) is in close proximity to the upper end of thecylinder (18) of the outer container (10).

Also, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a stepped section (19) which bulgesinward is formed slightly downward of the upper end of the innercontainer (12), and a ring (21) for fastening a garbage bag which is tobe positioned on said stepped section (19) is attached to the innercontainer (12). As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the upper section of a garbagebag (23) is pulled through the ring (21) for fastening a garbage bag,and as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the upper section of the garbage bag (23) isfolded back to the outside, whereupon the garbage bag (23) is placedwithin the inner container (23) as shown in FIG. 5 (c), and, bypositioning the ring (21) for fastening a garbage bag on the steppedsection (19), the garbage bag (23) can be placed within the innercontainer (12).

The outer lid (14) is of an approximately circular shape and molded inone piece of plastic, and is pivotally attached to the outer container(10) by means of a hinge (32). On the lower surface of the outer lid(14), as shown in FIG. 6 (a), are installed: in the central section, ahook section 34 with a curved extremity section and of a prescribedlength; at the base section, a hinge mounting section (35) and shaftmounting section (36); close to the base section, two inner lid holdingsections (37, 37), which have L-shaped cross sections; and at theextremity section, an inner lid mounting section (38). Said inner lidmounting section (38), as shown in FIG. 6 (b), consists of a widesection (40) which is wider than a flat section (39) being connected tothe lower end of said flat section (39).

The inner lid (16) is of an approximately circular shape and hasflexibility being molded in one piece of silicone rubber. As shown inFIG. 7, a bulging section (41) is located at the extremity section ofthe inner lid (16), and in the bulging section (41) an oval hole (42) isformed. Also, although it is not illustrated in a drawing, a projectingpiece is attached to the center of the upper surface of inner lid (16)and a circular hole is formed in the projecting piece, and the curvedsection of the extremity section of hook section (34) of the outer lid(14) is inserted into the circular hole. Furthermore, as shown in FIG.8, to said oval hole (42) the flat section (39) of the inner lidmounting section (38) of the outer lid (14) is inserted so that thedirection of the major axis of the oval hole (42) and the direction ofthe width of the flat section (39) are consistent with each other, andthe horizontal section (44) of the inner lid holding sections (37, 37)of the outer lid (14) is located downward of the inner lid (16). In thiscase, the width of the flat section (39) of the inner lid mountingsection (38) is shorter than the major axis of the oval hole (42), andthe width of the wide section (40) of the inner lid mounting section(38) is longer than the major axis of the oval hole (42), wherefore theflat section (39) is capable of sliding within the oval hole (42), andthe inner lid mounting section (38) is prevented by the wide section(40) from slipping out of the oval hole (42). FIG. 8 shows one mode forcarrying out the container lid relating to the invention.

For the inner lid, the mode for carrying out the invention described inUnexamined Japanese Patent 2006-160372 Gazette can be used optimally.Said Gazette discloses a container lid wherein the container lid has anouter surface and an inner surface which is capable of coming intocontact with the container which is to be sealed, the lid is made ofsilicone material, the lid includes a central section and a perimetersection which surrounds said central section, the thickness of theperimeter section being 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm, and the thickness of saidcentral section is greater than the thickness of said perimeter section.For the inner lid, the UFO Wrap (product name) sold by Kawashima KougyouCo., Ltd. can be used optimally.

With the garbage bin of the present embodiment, a pedal (48) is locatedat the platform (20) of the outer container (10), and by stepping on thepedal (48) with a foot the outer lid (14) and inner lid (16) are made toopen together. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, one end of arotating disc (52) which rotates around the axis section (50) isconnected to the pedal (48), and the lower end of a metal shaft (54) isconnected to the other end of the rotating disc (52), and the hooksection at the upper end of the shaft (54) is inserted into the shaftinsertion hole (58) located in the shaft mounting section (36) of theouter lid (14). When the pedal (48) is stepped on with a foot, the otherend of the rotating disc (52) lifts up and pushes up the shaft (54), theshaft (54) pushes up the outer lid (14), and the outer lid (14) and theinner lid (16) are made to open together.

With the garbage bin in the present mode for carrying out the invention,as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the lower surface of the inner lid (16) is inintimate contact with the upper end of the inner container (12) when theopening of the outer container (10) is closed by the outer lid (14).

The characteristics of the garbage bin in the present mode for carryingout the invention described above are (1) through (5) below.

(1) When the opening of the outer container (10) is closed with theouter lid (14), the lower surface of the inner lid (16) is in intimatecontact with the upper end of the inner container (12), wherefore no gapis formed between the inner container (12) and the inner lid (16),wherefore no odor from the garbage placed in the inner container (12)leaks to the outside. In this case, the hook section (34) of the outerlid (14) has a prescribed length and pushes down the inner lid (16) witha proper amount of pressure, wherefore the inner lid (16) in a generallyflexed state is brought strongly into intimate contact with the upperend of the inner container (12), as a result of which the inside of theinner container (12) is put under negative pressure, and the innercontainer (12) is completely sealed by means of the inner lid (16).Additionally, owing to the flat section (39) of the inner lid mountingsection (38) of the outer lid (14) being capable of sliding within theoval hole (42), the inner lid mounting section (38) does not press downon the inner lid (16) more than necessary, wherefore a gap is not formedbetween the inner container (12) and the inner lid (16) owing to flexingof the extremity side of the inner lid (16). When the length of the flatsection (39) is too short, the extremity side of the inner lid (16) maybecome suspended, allowing a gap to form between the inner container(12) and the inner lid (16), wherefore there is a need to make the flatsection (39) an appropriate length. Additionally, the flat section (39)only has to be capable of sliding within the oval hole (42), and can beof another configuration such as a rod shape. Additionally, when thepedal (48) is stepped on with a foot to open the outer lid (14) and theinner lid (16), the wide section (40) of the inner lid mounting section(38) of the outer lid (14) lifts up the extremity section of the innerlid (16), and as a result a gap is formed between the extremity sectionof the inner lid (16) and the inner container (12), allowing the insideof the inner container (12) to be opened to the air, wherefore the innercontainer (12) does not adhere to the inner lid (16) and lifted up.Additionally, after opening the outer lid (14) and the inner lid (16)and placing garbage into the inner container (12), the outer lid (14)and inner lid (16) are pushed shut with a hand, but because thehorizontal section (44) of the inner lid holding sections (37, 37) ofthe outer lid (14) is located downward of the inner lid (16), the basesection of the inner lid (16) does not dangle and become caught on theinner container.(2) On the upper end of the inner container (12) a folded-back section(24) folded back toward the outside is located, and a circular hole (26)is formed in this folded-back section (24), and both ends of a handle(28) are inserted into this circular hole (26). This is because, when athrough hole is formed in the section of the inner container (12) whichholds garbage, the interior of the inner container (12) is not placedunder negative pressure when the lower surface of the inner lid (16) isplaced in intimate contact with the upper end of the inner container(12), wherefore the inner container (12) is not sealed with the innerlid (16) and the odor from the garbage leaks to the outside through saidthrough hole. It is also acceptable not to have said folded-back section(24) on the inner container (12) but to form a non-penetrating concavesection at the upper section of the inner container (12), and insertboth ends of the handle into this concave section.(3) A stepped section (19) which bulges inward is formed slightlydownward of the upper end of inner container (12), and a ring (21) forfastening a garbage bag which is placed on stepped section (19) of innercontainer (12) is attached, and a garbage bag (23) is placed within theinner container (12) by means of the method shown in FIG. 5. This isbecause, although garbage bags are usually placed within the innercontainer (12) in a state where the garbage bag is folded back to theoutside at the upper end of the inner container (12), doing so wouldallow the garbage bag to come between the inner container (12) and theinner lid (16), making it impossible for the lower surface of inner lid(16) to be in intimate contact with the upper end of the inner container(12).(4) A ring-shaped flange (22) is fixed at the upper end of the cylinder(18) of the outer container (10), with the inner diameter of thering-shaped flange (22) being made larger than the inner diameter of thecylinder (18) and the diameter of the inner lid (16). This is for thepurpose of creating space to hold the inner lid (16) within the upperend section of the outer container (10).(5) The outer rim (30) of the folded-back section (24) of the innercontainer (12) is made to be in close proximity to the upper end of thecylinder (18) of the outer container (10). This is for the purpose ofsecuring enough space to place the inner lid (16) within the upper endsection of the outer container (10) while preventing garbage fromentering a gap between the outer container (10) and the inner container(12). When the folded-back section (24) is not formed on the innercontainer (10), the upper end of the inner container (12) needs only tobe placed in close proximity to the cylinder (18) of the outer container(10).

The garbage bin in the invention is not limited to the modes forcarrying out the invention described above but can be modified invarious ways as necessary. For example, in the mode for carrying out theinvention described above, the outer lid and inner lid are opened bymeans of stepping on a pedal with a foot, but the outer lid and innerlid can be made so that they are opened by lifting with a hand.Additionally, in the mode for carrying out the invention described abovethe inner container, outer container, outer lid, and inner lid arecircular in shape, but these can be other shapes as well, for example,triangular, square, oval, etc. Furthermore, the configuration,dimensions, etc., of the hook section, inner lid holding section, andinner lid mounting section of the outer lid, the hole in the extremitysection of the inner lid, and the projecting piece with a hole formed inthe center of the upper surface of the inner lid, can be specified asappropriate.

The container lid relating to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8,comprises an inner lid mounted to an outer lid. The container lidrelating to the present invention can be applied for containers otherthan garbage bins, as long as the container is comprised of an outercontainer and an inner container which is located inside the outercontainer.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A garbage bin comprising: an outer container; aninner container placed inside said outer container and in which garbageis placed; an openable/closable outer lid pivotally attached to saidouter container and closing an opening of said outer container; and aninner lid attached to a lower surface of said outer lid and movingtogether with said outer lid, and wherein a lower surface of said innerlid comes into intimate contact with an upper end of said innercontainer when the opening of said outer container is closed with saidouter lid.
 15. The garbage bin described in claim 14, wherein the innerlid has flexibility being made of silicone rubber.
 16. The garbage bindescribed in claim 14, wherein the lower surface of the outer lidincludes a hook section in a central section, a hinge mounting sectionin a base section, and an inner lid mounting section in an extremitysection, an upper surface of the inner lid includes in its center aprojecting piece with a hole formed in it, the extremity section of theinner lid includes a hole formed in it, said hook section of said outerlid is inserted in said hole in the upper central section of said innerlid, and the inner lid mounting section of said outer lid is inserted inthe hole in the extremity section of said inner lid, and wherein theinside of the inner container is placed under negative pressure due tosaid hook section pressing the inner lid downward when the lower surfaceof the inner lid is in intimate contact with the upper end of the innercontainer, and the inside of the inner container is opened to the air bysaid inner lid mounting section lifting up the extremity section of theinner lid when the outer lid and inner lid are opened.
 17. The garbagebin described in claim 16, wherein the inner lid mounting section ofsaid outer lid includes a wide section connected to a lower end of aflat section, with the width of said flat section being shorter than thediameter of the hole at the extremity section of said inner lid, and thewidth of said wide section being longer than the diameter of the hole atthe extremity section of said inner lid.
 18. The garbage bin describedin claim 14, further comprising an inner lid holding section having anL-shaped cross section located near the base section on the lowersurface of said outer lid, and a horizontal section of said inner lidholding section being located downward of said inner lid.
 19. Thegarbage bin described in claim 14, further comprising a folded-backsection folded back to the outside installed at an upper end of theinner container, and a hole being formed at said folded-back section andboth ends of a handle being inserted into said hole.
 20. The garbage bindescribed in claim 14, further comprising a stepped section molded tobulge inward slightly downward of an upper end of the inner containerand by attachment to the inner container of a ring for fastening agarbage bag, which is to be positioned on said stepped section.
 21. Thegarbage bin described in claim 14, further comprising a pedal installedat a lower section of the outer container, and by having the outer lidand inner lid open together by stepping on said pedal with a foot.
 22. Acontainer lid of a container including an outer container and an innercontainer positioned inside said outer container, comprising: anopenable/closable outer lid pivotally attached to said outer containerand closing an opening of said outer container; and an inner lidattached to a lower surface of said outer lid and moving together withsaid outer lid, and wherein a lower surface of the inner lid is inintimate contact with an upper end of said inner container when theopening of said outer container is closed by said outer lid.
 23. Thecontainer lid described in claim 22, wherein its inner lid hasflexibility being made of silicone rubber.
 24. The container liddescribed in claim 22, wherein the lower surface of the outer lidincludes a hook section in a central section, a hinge mounting sectionin a base section, and an inner lid mounting section in an extremitysection, an upper surface of the inner lid includes in its center aprojecting piece with a hole formed in it, the extremity section of theinner lid includes a hole formed in it, said hook section of said outerlid is inserted in said hole in the upper central section of said innerlid, and the inner lid mounting section of said outer lid is inserted inthe hole in the extremity section of said inner lid, and wherein theinside of the inner container is placed under negative pressure due tosaid hook section pressing the inner lid downward when the lower surfaceof the inner lid is in intimate contact with the upper end of the innercontainer, and by the inside of the inner container being opened to theair by said inner lid mounting section lifting up the extremity sectionof the inner lid when the outer lid and inner lid are opened.
 25. Thecontainer lid described in claim 24, wherein the inner lid mountingsection of said outer lid includes a wide section connected to a lowerend of a flat section, with the width of said flat section being shorterthan the diameter of the hole at the extremity section of said innerlid, and the width of said wide section being longer than the diameterof the hole at the extremity section of said inner lid.
 26. Thecontainer lid described in claim 22, further comprising an inner lidholding section having an L-shaped cross section located near the basesection on the lower surface of the outer lid, and a horizontal sectionof said inner lid holding section being located downward of said innerlid.